Better together? Stakeholder Collaboration as a Driver for Ecological Innovation in Community Model Destinations

This study explores the role of stakeholder collaboration in fostering ecological innovation within community model tourism destinations. As destinations face increasing ecological challenges, understanding how diverse stakeholders facilitate the adoption of sustainability practices is essential. Despite a growing body of literature exploring the economic dimensions of destination development, the specific mechanisms by which stakeholder collaboration catalyzes environmentally sustainable innovation have received less scholarly attention. Using a Flexible Pattern Matching Approach (FPMA) and qualitative interviews in Austrian destinations reveals how learning and dynamic capabilities, including experience accumulation, knowledge integration, and strategic visioning, serve as drivers for sustainable innovation capabilities. The findings demonstrate that collaborative relationships facilitate knowledge exchange, build trust, mobilize resources, and align sustainability concerns, leading to ecological innovations such as energy communities, sustainable transport, and slow food travel initiatives. By advancing the strategic net framework, this study offers practical insights for destination managers and policymakers, highlighting how collaborative efforts and supportive policies can balance economic, social, and environmental goals, ensuring long-term sustainability for tourism destinations.